Primary Support
NHPSS Overview
North Herts Primary Support Service is a commissioned service providing SEMH support for pupils in Letchworth, Baldock and Royston partnership areas.
Three of the Partnerships of the local DSPL
(Letchworth, Baldock and Royston, the Tri-Partnership) have:
‘Commissioned NHESC to provide appropriate outreach support on behalf of the learners using High Needs Block funding’
NHESC having been commissioned, have created the North Herts Primary Support Service (NHPSS) to provide primary support services to Letchworth, Baldock and Royston.
The baseline outcomes are that pupils worked with by the NHPSS will
- make positive progress and achievement
- engage in learning as a result of the work done with their social, emotional and mental health difficulties, allowing them to access a full curriculum by helping to remove their barriers to learning
Model of SEMH Support in DSPL1
The aim of this approach is to support schools, children and families with a focus on appropriate support and advice to ultimately reduce the number of children at significant risk of or who have been permanently excluded. The model supports direct work with high needs SEMH pupils, while also facilitating early intervention advice and training in school.
NHPSS advice /training is available at all tiers.
Tier 1 Within individual schools
Tier 2 Advice and Training
Tier 3 North Herts Primary Support Service
Tier 4
- NHPSS support appropriate to meeting the needs of the young person and the school
- Supporting a managed move where this is deemed appropriate
Tier 5 Respite for NHPSS pupils at risk of Permanent Exclusion, or that have been Permanently Excluded
Primary Referral Process
Referrals to NHPSS
Where a school feels they need support, a referral needs to be made using the North Herts Support Service referral paperwork. All referral paperwork can be found at the bottom of the page. The referral pack includes a single service request form and assessment data sheet. By signing the assessment data sheet, the parent/carer are agreeing to comply with our GDPR policy, which can be found below.
The completed North Herts Support Service referral paperwork then needs to be emailed to where the NHPSS Joint Leads will check if the referral meets the High Needs criteria for support. The NHPSS will contact the school to arrange a meeting for support to begin.
Assistance may be given to write PSPs, reports for LHNF, CDC, CDAC, EHCPs and CAMHS; NHPSS staff members will attend meetings for the above where appropriate.
NHPSS also offer a range of support and training, including Positive Behaviour Management Training, to whole staff groups, small teams and MSAs. This will support a consistent approach within school. To access this training please contact us on or alternatively speak to Jon Hansford or Robyn McFayden.
Primary Service Provided
North Herts Primary Support Service
NHPSS offers support for KS1 and KS2 pupils who meet the High Needs criteria, using the Hertfordshire Tiered approach. The support will provide an SEMH Curriculum with out of class support work. Additionally, enhanced support will be tailored to the child’s needs, there may be time spent supporting pupils in the classroom or on a withdrawal basis. The support offered to pupils is based on the information gathered about each pupil’s individual High Needs and can be altered should their circumstances, or tiered level of need, change.
Where a pupil’s level of need dramatically increases and there is a five day, or more, or possible permanent exclusion, then there may be a need to remove support from other pupils who are at the lowest level of High Need. This additional staff time allocation will be taken from pupils who are within the same partnership.
NHPSS staff work within the NHESC calendar and may also attend NHESC, and other, training courses. All attempts will be made for staff to attend meetings for pupils within their own support time; however occasionally staff will need to cancel a session – the support worker will give as much notice as possible.
Primary Contacts
North Herts Support Services
Robyn McFayden - Joint NHPSS Lead - 07876788760
Jon Hansford - Joint NHPSS Lead - 07717534613
North Herts Support Services Support Staff
Emma Goddard – 07796526289
Asia Hussain – 07786935699
Sian Young - 07795841915
Alexandra Hammett – 07796536609
Tiegan Potter – 07796538094
Jade Upton – 07796542070
Nichola Walker - 07795843599
Saddie Mayse - 07840848677
Chair of the NHPSS Commissioning Group
Name: Mrs Julie Petitt
Letchworth Partnership Rep
Name: Mrs Julie Petitt
Baldock Partnership Rep
Name: Mr Simon England
Royston Partnership Rep
Name: Mrs Anna Greetham
Testimonials
A Selection of Responses from Parent/Carers when asked about their child’s progress:
“… has improved greatly”
“… think it is helping him”
“… more patient in time of stress…heard him “countdown from 10” & use techniques that you have taught him and it really helps him. Thank you”
“… definitely less physical behaviour when angry or upset”
"… talks positively about the Outreach Support”
“Thank you”
A Selection of Responses from Pupils when asked about their progress:
“Starting and completing more work”
“I am not shouting out so much”
“I want to do well in maths and literacy”
“Looks forward to come to school”
“I’ve done lots of good writing”
“I usually think about it (my behaviour) to make (Outreach worker) proud”
“I am more confident about my learning”
A Selection of Responses from Pupils when asked about the most helpful work they did in the sessions:
“Talking about needs”
“The STAR system”
“the listening work”
“To go over strategies”
“Anger Gremlin worksheets/to slow my anger down”
“makes me more positive about losing”
“talking about how I feel”
“making me do more good things”
“looking at my positive and feelings book”
“Anger strategies”
“Group work with social skills and friendships”
School Comments
“The support … has always been consistent and given a clear message, which school has been able to follow through”
“… improved attitude to learning”
“… behaviour has improved greatly”
“ … addresses adults appropriately”
“… is happier coming into school and follows instructions better”
“… causing less disruptions to the learning of others”
“… more willing to engage with learning”
“… more willing to work with his peers”
“… now responds well to praise”
“… been given a variety of different strategies to try”
“Excellent support … friendly, approachable and empathetic”
“We are very pleased to have the support of both XX and XX to support pupils in our school. The children enjoy their sessions with them and they have adapted to all our Covid restrictions in place. It has been great that XX has been able to contribute to the annual review of one of our pupils and support our request for a change of provision to specialist.”
“All staff are very approachable and knowledgeable. They have always built a professional relationship with the school and pupil.”
“Obviously if we could have more sessions for our children we would all benefit from that but we know that services are stretched and we really appreciate what we do get!”
“There was more consistency in pupil's sessions in 2019-20 - less cancelling at short notice, moving around and changing of workers.”